Phantom of the Golf Swing Fundamentals- Sports Psychology

The QATSPY Golfer’s Sports Page: Golf Swing Tips

By: Charles W. Boatright

The Golf Swing Fundamentals and Phantom of the Golfer’s Game

Understanding how to apply golf swing fundamentals to one’s golf game can best be described by Webster’s Dictionary, at times, by the term Phantom – as an abstract idea or theory that is elusive and very difficult to visualize or to grasp. I can’t think of a better word to describe the basic components of the golf swing fundamentals. But the golfer’s Phantom, the golf swing fundamentals and concepts, does not have to remain mysterious or out of one’s reach. Once the golfer understands their Phantom, their golf game can become a more natural routine to perform on a consistent basis.

Whether you’re a golfer taking golf lessons for the first time or a seasoned golfer with a single-digit handicap, the golfer still has to deal with this basic component that I refer to as the Phantom of golf, the golf swing fundamentals. The Phantom of golf can have either a positive or a negative impact on applying these golf swing fundamentals on the golf course. The Phantom of golf is the most mysterious aspect that the golfer has to deal with in their game.

Where the golfer feels the full impact and influence of their Phantom is on the golf course. It seems like the Phantom is never present during a golfer’s lessons or the practice sessions. If the Phantom of golf were present during the golfer’s lessons and practice sessions, the golfer could take full advantage of its enormous potential without any difficulty. The golfer’s Phantom accounts for approximately 85 percent of the golfer’s game and consistency.

What confidence the golfer gains during their golf lessons or practice sessions, by establishing their elements, they lose on the golf course. The golfer can usually perform these elements and techniques after the first couple of holes of their round, but then their Phantom steps in and takes over their golf game on the golf course. This is where the golfer experiences the negative effect and impact of their Phantom.

The Phantom of the golf swing is the golfer’s subconscious mind that acts like a double-edged sword in the golfer’s game. When the golfer’s Phantom makes its appearance on the golf course, usually round about the third hole, it erases all of the golfer’s short-term memory, or their elements from their practice sessions. The golfer’s short-term memory, the conscious mind, contains the golfer’s swing thoughts. The loss of the golfer’s short-term memory is due to the dominant influence of the golfer’s Phantom. This is described in Rule No. 7 of the 10-Rules of the Subconscious Mind.

For the golfer trying to take advantage of their Phantom, the golfer’s subconscious mind must transform swing thoughts into a confident, reliable routine. The golfer has to transform their concepts, or swing thoughts of their golf swing elements and techniques, into a natural, instinctive routine. The golfer’s routine consists of a simple golf swing sequence and golf swing fundamentals that the golfer doesn’t have to think about, since it is a natural reflex or habit. Some athletes describe this natural reflex and routine habit as a Zone-like performance.

To form a routine habit based on golf swing fundamentals, the golfer isn’t looking at a few days of lessons and practice sessions for their mind to retain and reproduce the new elements or techniques in their golf swing sequence. The golfer’s Phantom, their subconscious mind, is treating any new elements or techniques as a survival skill. Without proof, the subconscious mind will not accept the new elements or techniques. This is according to Rule No. 6- The subconscious mind must have proof to use your beliefs and to strengthens them. The golfer needs to expect to spend a minimum of 21- days under actual conditions in order to establish a new habit, or in the golfer’s case, a new element or technique. The key word is- UNDER ACTUAL CONDITIONS!

Sports Psychologist Technique for Creating the ZONE-like Performance

Top-performing athletes describe this ZONE-like performance as if they are watching someone else performing; they’re just spectators. The golfer’s Phantom, their subconscious mind, is responsible for this ZONE-like performance. The golfer’s Phantom is fueled by the athlete’s adrenaline that maximizes their focus factor. This is the positive effect of the golfer’s Phantom.

Conversely, the negative effects of the golfer’s Phantom is brought about by the golfer relying on their swing thoughts. Swing thoughts are a conscious function. Relying on swing thoughts, or what the golfer thought was their confidence, in reality causes the golfer to experience a mental fog of confusion and frustration. As stated in Rule No. 7, the subconscious mind is the dominant force in the golfer’s game, based on a well-developed muscle memory and routine.

We may very well practice our golf swing fundamentals by using our conscious mind, but we most assuredly will play golf using our subconscious mind, the golfer’s Phantom, guaranteed! Whatever routine that is in the golfer’s subconscious mind at the time of their round is what the golfer’s swing sequence will consist of for that day, and not what the golfer practiced.

Rules No. 7 and No. 9 of the 10-Mental Rules of the Subconscious Mind

In sports Psychology, the golf swing fundamentals are based on Rules No. 7 and No.9 of the 10-Mental Rules of the Subconscious Mind. These are listed below:

7. The subconscious mind always prevails in conflicts with the conscious mind.

9. The greater the conscious effort that is exerted will reduce the subconscious response.

Rule No. 7– The golfer’s practice sessions is a conscious function represents only 15 percent of the golfer’s performance on the golf course. The key to the golfer’s other 85 percent performance is their subconscious function. A great method to form a reliable golf swing sequence is with a well-developed skill from a prior experience, sports psychologist call this Apperception. This is the reason why the subconscious mind is dominant and wins the performance battle.

Rule No. 7– is the basis for the sports psychology and coaching philosophy that states- The golfer should practice how they play; and play how they practice. Your subconscious mind can only develop the golf swing sequence (consisting of elements and techniques), based on a well-established, instinctive routine. In order for the golfer to create this instinctive routine, the golfer must be on the golf course, either under actual course conditions or course-like conditions.

Rule No. 9– The more conscious effort (swing thoughts) that is used or exerted on the golf course decreases the golfer’s subconscious ability in executing a consistent golf swing routine. Sports psychologist stress- Not understanding the golfer’s Phantom, subconscious mind, and its impact on the golfer’s golf swing fundamentals is like the golfer leaving 85 percent of their potential in the locker room or clubhouse.

There is another unique rule in the10-Mental Rules of the Subconscious Mind in golf, which is Rule No. 1- The subconscious mind does not differentiate between virtual and actual experience. This can be proven by using a set of X-Box or Galaxy virtual goggles. By using a set of virtual goggles, the golfer’s subconscious mind can’t distinguish between what is real and virtual experience. This allows the golfer to develop and use their Phantom, their subconscious mind, during their practice sessions and on the golf course more effectively. The ESPY Golf Swing Coach has a virtual practice drill technique called the 405- Training Drill that addresses the subconscious mind, in Section 7 of my book.

X-Box or Galaxy virtual goggles, and excellent method to use in your practice sessions to simulate actual golf course conditions.

These 10- Rules of the Subconscious Mind are like the USGA Rules; the golfer can either use them to hinder or to benefit their golf game. Your choice.

Applying the ASPEN Self-Coaching Technique

ASPEN Golf Coaching Pyramid to learn the various stages of developing a reliable golf swing sequence and routine.

(Image of the ASPEN Pyramid)

The ASPEN Self-Coaching Technique, shown in the pyramid above, allows the golfer to use prior skills to enhance the golfer’s skills to develop their golf swing fundamentals and golf swing sequence to develop a consistent routine. This self-coaching technique called Apperception. For instance, the golfer is able to use a well-developed skill, like was developed from the baseball-type swing, to develop a dependable golf swing sequence. Sports psychologist refer to this as Context-Based learning. But using the baseball-type swing actually accomplishes more than Context-Base Learning, it provides the golfer experience and confidence.

The baseball-type swing offers the golfer more than just the ability to use golf swing elements and techniques on the golf course. The baseball-type swing offers the golfer the ability to treat the tee box like a batter’s box. When was the last time you were standing in the batter’s box, thinking about your baseball swing mechanics? I would guess, NEVER! In baseball, the batter’s conscious mind is just focused on the movement and rotation of the baseball pitch over sixty foot- six inches.

The ESPY Golf Swing Coach provides the golfer with the ability to use their baseball-type golf swing to complete 80 percent of their golf swing sequence, as shown above with the golfer just focusing on their strike ZONE. The golfer only has to Sync/Preset their wrists and lower forearms like in a baseball-type swing. This is proven in the time-lapse photography comparing the golf swing vs. the baseball swing, in the figure below.

This time-lapse photography comparing the similarities of the golf swing vs. the baseball swing with the preset of the wrists right before impact.

This golf swing technique is similar to a technique used in the David Duval and Ken Duke golf swing techniques. Ken Duke and David Duval described the preset technique in their interviews with Golf Channel, Lisa Cornwell and Charlie Rymer respectively. The advantage of the Sync/Preset technique is that the golfer eliminates their tendency to rely on swing thoughts; instead, the golfer develops and relies on their muscle memory in the golf routine, based on experience and not a thought process.

The only thing more precious than knowledge is experience. The only thing the golfer with the ESPY Golf Swing Technique is required to do, consciously, is FOCUS, instead of THINK! Thinking kills a golf swing sequence.

NOTE: Sports psychologist state that it takes 21-days to form a new habit or develop a muscle memory just for one technique or element alone. If the golfer is trying to learn and develop muscle memory for a new golf swing sequence, the golfer is looking at factor of five to ten times the 21-day duration. This is usually when the golfer experiences frustration and mass confusion. The best method to reduce this duration time is the Apperception coaching technique. This is where the golfer can use technique from their baseball-type swing. This allows the golfer to take their baseball swing from the batter’s box to the tee box.

To learn how to develop your subconscious mind, the golfer’s Phantom, purchase your copy of The ESPY Golf Swing Coach from the links below, or visit your local bookstore:

My book can also be purchased at Edwin Watts Golf Store in Jackson, Mississippi. Phone No. 601-956-8784

820 East County Line Road, Ridgeland, MS 39157

My book can also be purchased on-line at:

Health and Fitness Program Golf Exercise for Power

This book is based on a self-coaching forum (ASPEN Pyramid) that provides the beginner and advanced single-digit handicap golfer with a safe, ergonomic classic golf swing for more power and control, without debilitating injuries that are common with some modern-day golf swings. As part of the ESPY Golf Swing Coach is a workout program designed especially for golfers and an effective diet program detailed below:

Please take advantage of my SR-925 Diet Program, where I lost 6 inches in my waist in 3- months (FREE of CHARGE) with the CASPER Workout Program, detailed in Section 20 of my book, great golf swing workout:

One component in my CASPER Workout Program that I follow is using a Medicine Ball to perform what I call Stocking the Shelves, illustrated below in the figure:

Golf exercise with a Medicine Ball Workout- Stocking the Selves great for increasing POWER and SPEED in the golfer’s swing.

Please include an exercise routine in your weekly schedule.

Establishing the Golfer’s Rhythm w/o Creating the Golfer’s Blues

ESPY Golf Swing Coach- ESPY App Developing the golfer’s Rhythm w/o creating the golfer’s Blues. This is a photograph of my grandfather, H.Q. Boatright in 1946 at the North Hills Country Club, designed by Bobby Jones, Sr.

Also, learning The ESPY Golf Swing Coach process is an excellent way to develop Rhythm without experiencing the Blues in your golf game for confidence; learn how to take your baseball-style swing from the batter’s box to the tee box.

Learn How to take your baseball-style golf swing from the batter’s box to the tee box.

A Recommendation for your Golf Game:

I would like to recommend an interesting radio program that I regularly listen to from my home state Arkansas on my I-Heart Radio app on KARN 102.9 FM station, out of Little Rock, AR. They air a golf show called Arkansas Fairways and Greens, at 7:00 AM CT each Saturday morning, hosted by Bob Steel, and co-hosted by Jay Fox and Charles Crowson. Bob occasionally as has his guess Alex Myers with Golf Digest and Ron Sirak with Golf Channel. I was interviewed on his show about my book, The ESPY Golf Swing Coach. This show is worth tuning into for golf news and information.

Jay Fox is an Administrator with Arkansas State Golf Association and discusses amateur golf and rules of the game.

Most states have either a State Golf Association and/or a P.J. Boatwright Internship that homeschooled students can take advantage of to help them establish an athletic activity into their curriculum. The State Golf Association provides young students with the ability to track and document their handicap, while competing in tournaments.

Golf is an excellent sport that homeschooled students can compete in, either on an individual or a team level without risk of severe injuries. The majority of Colleges offer scholarships to students to help them continue their passion for the sport of golf.

Once you learn WHY, you don’t forget HOW!

Two decisions that you can make for yourself and your kids are to get a copy of my book and place the book and a golf club into their hands. You will never look back, but only forward. You will not miss with this for yourself and/or your kids.